Yesterday, Day 6, included a few setbacks like ripping a fused bird off the fabric and completely redoing him, but still all went well. And guess what? I finished the background panel!!
I only need to purchase some smaller beads (rather than the ones I bought on Saturday for this project); they will be attached to each birdhouse so it will look like they're all hanging from each other and from the top branch rather than just floating in space.
In this picture you can see the bird flying that I mentioned yesterday; he's the one that needed revamping because of a wing color mistake on the pattern (at least the pattern didn't match the cover picture). Also I've tacked some eye lash yarn to the first birdhouse hole so it will look like a nest is built inside.
Other embellishments I added today include flower bead centers, yarn on the third birdhouse roof, and ribb
on on the fourth birdhouse perch. (Right click and open in a new window for the entire picture to show a closer view. And you will see flaws, which I'm leaving in - adds character!)
The project is basically finished now as far as posting more of my progress. The final wall hanging will look just as you see it, with the exception of the quilting.
In the next couple of days, I'll cut the backing and batting and sew all three layers together, start the quilting, and finally sew on the binding with mitered corners. To answer Tammy S.'s question...I will stitch-in-the-ditch at each border. So, yes, I will sew all the borders down through three layers. Then I will sew around the edges of all the fused pieces; in other words, this will quilt the wall hanging and make it slightly puffy looking and more complete.
I hope you've enjoyed watching the progress on this project. I'm taking a much deserved day off today, and I'll start back on the actual sewing tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by and encouraging me to keep going these last few days. I've had a fun time!
~Deb
Related posts: Day 1, Day 2, Days 3 - 4, Day 5.
Deb, it is really beautiful! Can I buy it?! :-) You did a great job. I like the added details to give it dimension. The fabric choices are perfect! Wow! Thanks for sharing you daily progress! It has been a pleasure to watch and read! Enjoy your day off!
Posted by: Dorothy | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 08:58 AM
Congratulations on finishing !Enjoy your day off!
Posted by: Tammy | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 09:16 AM
It is sooo beautiful! I didn't see any flaws! We are always our worst critics! ;o)
Love, Heather
Posted by: Heather | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 09:57 AM
I love it I love it I love it!
You all are so talented. I can only dream of doing those things one day!
Thank you for sharing the lovely pictures - they brightened up this rainy day! :)
Posted by: Elise | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 01:09 PM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Barbara R. | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 04:16 PM
It looks great, Deb!!! Enjoy it!
Posted by: Susan | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 06:41 PM
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!!! I love the colors, the fabric, the embellishments, all of it!!! I know of a friend of yours that has a birthday coming up, I'm sure she would be delighted to recieve such a wonderful gift!! :) LOL
Thanks for sharing all your work with us, I know you will put it somewhere that it will look just perfect.
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 08:36 PM
I love the wall hanging! That is going to look so great!
Posted by: Cindi | Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Deb - Somehow I missed clicking over for this post. Your birdhouse hanging is beautiful! I love the fabrics - stunning colors, the graceful bird in flight, the fat, little blue bird . . .everything! And it was so much fun reading the daily progress. Great series! :o)
Posted by: Jodi | Friday, February 23, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Debo--that is absolutely gorgeous! I am so very impressed. Now comes my major question: how are you going to hang it? I have a wall hanging I bought in Germany that I have yet to find hardware short enough for it. Yours looks about the same width as mine, but mine is shorter. Will you hang yours on a dowel or rod of some sort? Where will you find one short enough? The shortest I can find (within reason) is 28 inches. Mine needs to be shorter than that. I really wanted wrought iron rather than a wooden dowel--but I might have to give in to that. :)
Posted by: Rhonda | Monday, February 26, 2007 at 09:23 PM
First, thank you to everyone for your kind comments on this major project I tackled! I enjoyed it all...until the quilting part which has kept me glued to the sewing machine for the past few days (hence no blogging!).
Rhonda, I sewed on two cloth tabs at the top which a dowel rod will fit through. No problem with finding one short enough; Tom can always cut it the right size and sand it for me to make it work. Of course, wrought iron would make for a nicer looking hanging. And I'll probably hang it in our foyer - that's about the only place this wild red color in the border won't clash with something else!
Updated to add: Check out this web page for wire hangers and quilt hangers. Scroll to the bottom of the page for quilt hangers (various sizes) and maybe 1/3 way down on the right for a 12" ivy hanger with dowels and finials. Here's the link:
http://www.crosscountrystitching.com/newcatalog/prod_search.cfm
Posted by: Deb | Monday, February 26, 2007 at 09:35 PM